The Church considers Lent of such importance

[Mary Naeem]

Pope Shenouda III







The Church considers Lent of such importance that it has laid for it special rites.
It has its own special tunes, longer period of abstention, special readings and responses, a special rite of burning the morning incense, and special prostration in the Mass before absolving the deacons.
During Lent, a special Katamarus of biblical readings is used and contains readings from the Old Testament to create a special spiritual atmosphere all of its own.